Just what defines the depth of our feelings when we listen to music? Is it the melodies, the harmonies, the instrumentation or the vocal timbres? As a violin recording artist with a reputation for creating "romantic" music, I have wrestled with these questions for years. Indeed, whenever I am to produce another album I must chose the material to be recorded, the instrumentation, the tempos, rhythmic feel, etc. And these same questions arise.
Without going into all the whys and wherefores I have determined that it is the associations the listener has with the music that mostly matters. If a song (or large scale work) was heard in the context of the listener's "romantic" experience, then that piece will forever be among his/her favorite "romantic" music. For this same reason, natural sounds in our environment take on romantic connotations. If we enjoy a romantic episode to the roar of a surf, the howl of a train whistle, or the cry of the sea birds, then re-experiencing these sounds will cause our heart and mind to re-live those memories.
It's from these associations that I suppose we sometimes find ourselves saying,"Listen honey, they're playing our song!"
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
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